1. In 1901, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the new Massachusetts State House in Boston. The building was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch and has since become an iconic landmark of the city.

2. On January 16, 1919, the Prohibition Era officially began in the United States with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment banned the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, leading to a rise in bootlegging and organized crime.

3. In 1967, the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 134-129 in double overtime, setting the NBA record for most points scored in a single game. Celtics player John Havlicek led the team with a remarkable 54 points.

4. On this day in 1909, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University opened its doors to the public. The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts and specimens from around the world, including ancient Egyptian mummies and Native American ceremonial masks.

5. January 16, 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of the first successful flight of a powered aircraft in the United States. The flight, which took place in a field in North Carolina, was made by the Wright brothers Wilbur and Orville. Their groundbreaking achievement paved the way for modern aviation as we know it today.